Connectors for concrete footer frames

ABSTRACT

A stamped, sheet metal, form connector connects two concrete form boards together in end-to-end abutting relationship in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the connector connects two form boards in overlapping relationship. In a third and fourth embodiment, the connector connects two form boards at an inside and outside corner, respectively. Double headed nails fasten the connector to the form boards, allowing for easy removal without damage to the forms. The connector is inexpensive to manufacture, and is simple and convenient to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the masonry field, especially to the art of laying up forms in which concrete footings are poured. Forms for concrete footings are usually made of dimensional lumber or heavy plywood panels, or may even be manufactured aluminum panels. Where these lengths of lumber or panels are laid up end to end, they must be joined together in a fixed relationship, so that the concrete will not blow out the joint in the forms.

A typical method of joining form boards in end to end relationship is to nail a splice board over the joint. While this method can result in a satisfactory joint, it is an inefficient method in that wood must be cut to length and applied over the joint with sufficient nails to secure the splice. When such a splice is removed, as the forms are taken up, the forms are often damaged and cannot be reused.

Another method of joining forms at corner joints is to nail through the face of one form board into the end of the other. Nailing into an end grain of a form board results in a weak joint. Again, the form boards are often destroyed when the forms are removed from the cured concrete.

Some attempts have been made to provide a form connector for joining concrete form boards. Most of these devices are complex in structure, complicated to use, and expensive to manufacture. One such connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,888 to Oury. Oury shows a connector in the form of a plate with slots therein, where the slots slide over studs preformed into the form surface. The connector can be configured to connect two forms end-to-end, or in a corner relationship. A drawback of this connector is that the form boards must be preconfigured with the studs that the connector must engage. This limits its use to forms specifically made for this connector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connector for connecting forms for concrete footings. A first embodiment provides a connector that joins two form boards in end to end abutting relationship. Another embodiment provides a connector for form boards in overlapping relationship. A third and fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that connects form boards at a corner joint, both inside and outside.

The connector of the present invention consists of a stamped, sheet metal bracket which sits over the top edge of the form boards spanning the joint therebetween. The bracket can extend downwardly over the inside face and outside face of the form boards, and is secured in place with a number of double headed nails. The connector of the present invention is simple and easy to use, is inexpensive to produce, and is effective in joining form boards in rigid relationship. Also, the present form connector does not cause damage to the form boards when in use or when being removed, and can be used over again. Further, the present connector can be used with dimensional lumber form boards. No specially made form boards are needed for use with this connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, connecting two forms in end-to-end abutting relationship;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, connecting two forms in overlapping relationship;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, used for making a connection at an inside corner of two forms;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment, used for making a connection at an outside corner of two forms;

FIG. 5 shows the connector of FIG. 3 in use connecting two form boards at an inside corner; and

FIG. 6 shows the connector of FIG. 4 in use connecting two form boards at an outside corner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the form connector 1 in use connecting two form boards 7 and 8 in an end-to-end abutting relationship. Form connector 1 consists of a sheet metal body having an outside portion 2, a top portion 3, and an inside portion 4. Form connector 1 sits atop the joint between two form boards 7 and 8, spanning the joint therebetween. Outside portion 2 extends downwardly from the top of the form boards and extends over a portion of the outsides of the form boards. Top portion 3 is connected to the outside portion 2 and extends across the upper surface of the form boards, also spanning the joint therebetween. Connected to the top portion 3 is an inside portion 4, which extends downwardly from top portion 3 and extends over a part of the inside surface of the form boards 7 and 8. Nail holes 5 are strategically placed on the outer portion 2 and top portion 3 allowing for double headed nails 6 to pass therethrough, securing the connector 1 to the form boards 7 and 8. Double headed nails 6 are used to allow quick and easy removal of the nails, connector and form boards after the concrete is cured. Preferably, two vertically spaced nail holes 5 are placed on the part of outside portion 2 extending over the outside of form board 7, and two vertically spaced nail holes 5 are placed on the part of outside portion 2 extending over the outside of form board 8. Nails 6 will pass through these nail holes 5, fixedly securing the form connector 1 to the form boards 7 and 8, thereby securing form boards 7 and 8 in an end-to-end fixed relationship. Nail holes 5 can also be placed in the top portion 3, with one hole 5 being placed on each side of top portion 3, allowing a single nail to be placed in the top of each of boards 7 and 8. FIG. 1 shows the outer portion 2 having an opening 30 therein. This opening 30 allows the installer of the connector to clearly see the joint between form boards 7 and 8 so that the connector can be quickly and properly aligned during installation, allowing for maximum strength of the connection. The connector could also be made without this opening 30. To use the connector, form boards 7 and 8 are laid up into the desired position, with the ends in tight abutting relationship. Connector 1 is then placed over the top edge of form boards 7 and 8, with the joint therebetween placed in the center of opening 30. Double headed nails 6 are then nailed through openings 5 in the top portion and into the top edge of the form boards, to either side of the joint. Nails 6 can also be placed through openings 5 in the outer portion of the connector and into the outer surface of the form boards. It is to be understood that more or less nails can be placed through connector 1, as is needed to secure a strong connection between form boards 7 and 8.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the form connector. In this embodiment, form connector 9 is used in connecting two form boards 7 and 8 in overlapping relationship. Form connector 9 has outside portion 11, top portion 10 and inside portion 12. Portions 11, 10 and 12 lie in relationship to form boards 7 and 8 in the same way as portions 2, 3, and 4 of FIG. 1, respectively. Outer portion 11 has a screw 13 threadably engaged therein, and passing therethrough to a plate 15. Plate 15 is located inside the outer portion 11, between outer portion 11 and form board 8. Screw 13 has a T-handle 14 on its outer end to allow a user of the connector to tighten the screw placing a force on plate 15 and thereby securing the connector 9 to the form boards 7 and 8. In use, connector 9 is placed over the overlapping form boards 7 and 8, with the outer portion 11 placed over the exterior of the form board 8 and the inner portion 12 placed over the interior of form board 7. Inner portion 12 engages the interior of form board 7, while plate 15 engages the exterior of form board 8. When screw 13 is tightened by turning T-handle 14, the connector fixedly engages form boards 7 and 8 in overlapping relationship. As shown in FIG. 2, more than one connector 9 may be used at each joint to increase the strength of the overlapping joint.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show form connectors for making connections of form boards at inside corners and outside corners, respectively. FIG. 3 shows connector 16, which is used for connecting two form boards at an inside corner. Connector 16 has a top portion 19 that extends over the upper edge of a form board, and inside portion 17 that extends downwardly over the inside face of the form board. Connector 16 is formed at a right angle to match the right angle between the form boards that make the inside corner. Connector 16 has nail holes 5 extending through the top portion 19. Preferably, two nail holes 5 are provided in each part of the top portion 19. FIG. 4 shows a similar connector 20, but made to a connection to form boards at an outside corner. Connector 20 has top portion 21 that extends over the upper edge of a form board, and an outside portion 22 that extends downwardly over the outside face of the form board. Connector 20 is also formed at a right angle to match the right angle between the form boards that make the outside corner. Similar to connector 16, connector 20 also is provided with nail holes 5 in the top portion 21.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show connectors 16 and 20 in use, respectively. In FIG. 5, connector 16 is shown spanning the inside corner joint between form boards 27 and 28. Double headed nails 6 pass through nail holes 5 in the top portion 19 and into the top edge of form boards 27 and 28, thereby securing the form boards together at an inside corner, right angle relationship. In FIG. 6, connector 20 is shown spanning the outside corner joint between form boards 37 and 38. Double headed nails 6 pass through nail holes 5 in the top portion 21 and into the top edge of form boards 37 and 38, thereby securing the form boards together at an outside corner, right angle relationship.

While the connectors have been described as being formed from stamped sheet metal, it is to be understood that the connectors could be made of other materials such as molded plastics, or forged metals such as steel or bronze.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various changes can be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1) A connector for connecting two form boards, used for forming a concrete footing, across a joint between the form boards in fixed relationship, the concrete form boards having an inner surface which confines the concrete poured therein, an upper edge, and an outer surface, said connector comprising: an upper portion which extends across the upper edge of the form boards and spans the joint; an outer portion, connected to said upper portion, which extends downwardly from said upper portion over a part of said outer surface of the form boards; and, means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards. 2) The connector of claim 1, further comprising an inner portion connected to said upper portion, said inner portion extending downwardly from said upper portion over a part of said inner surface of said form boards. 3) The connector of claim 2, wherein said means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards comprises nails which pass through said upper portion and into said upper edge of said form boards. 4) The connector of claim 2, wherein said means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards comprises nails which pass through said outer portion and into said outer surface of said form boards. 5) The connector of claim 1, wherein said means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards comprises a screw having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end threadably engaged in said outer portion and passing therethrough, a plate connected to said screw at said inner end and engaged against said outer surface of said form board, and a T-handle fixed to the outer end of said screw for facilitating turning of said screw. 6) The connector of claim 1, wherein said outer portion has an opening therein, said opening spanning said joint between said form boards on said outer surface, thereby allowing for accurate placement of said connector across said joint. 7) The connector of claim 2, wherein said outer portion has an opening therein, said opening spanning said joint between said form boards on said outer surface, thereby allowing for accurate placement of said connector across said joint. 8) A connector for connecting two form boards, used for forming a concrete footing, across an outside corner joint between the form boards in fixed relationship, the concrete form boards having an inner surface which confines the concrete poured therein, an upper edge, and an outer surface, said connector comprising: an upper portion which extends across the upper edge of the form boards and spans the joint, said upper portion having two legs formed at right angles to each other; an outer portion, connected to said upper portion, said outer portion extending downwardly from said upper portion over a part of said outer surface of the form boards, said outer portion having two legs formed at right angle to each other; and, means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards on both sides of said joint. 9) The connector of claim 8, wherein said means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards comprises nails which pass through said upper portion and into said upper edge of said form boards. 10) A connector for connecting two form boards, used for forming a concrete footing, across an inside corner joint between the form boards in fixed relationship, the concrete form boards having an outer surface which confines the concrete poured therein, an upper edge, and an inner surface, said connector comprising: an upper portion which extends across the upper edge of the form boards and spans the joint, said upper portion having two legs formed at right angles to each other; an inner portion, connected to said upper portion, said inner portion extending downwardly from said upper portion over a part of said inner surface of the form boards, said inner portion having two legs formed at right angle to each other; and, means for fixedly attaching one of said upper portion or said inner portion to said concrete form boards on both sides of said joint. 11) The connector of claim 10, wherein said means for fixedly attaching of said upper portion or said outer portion to said concrete form boards comprises nails which pass through said upper portion and into said upper edge of said form boards. 